Sebi asks bourses, depositories to launch online complaint redressal system


PTI | New Delhi | Updated: 04-07-2022 18:09 IST | Created: 04-07-2022 18:05 IST
Sebi asks bourses, depositories to launch online complaint redressal system
Representative Image Image Credit: ANI
  • Country:
  • India

To enable investors to lodge their complaints and track the status of redressal of such grievances, capital markets regulator Sebi on Monday asked stock exchanges and depositories to launch an online complaints redressal system of their own within six months.

This is in line with the online platform, SCORES, launched by the capital markets regulator in June 2011 to help investors lodge their complaints, about the securities market, against listed companies and Sebi-registered intermediaries.

SCORES stands for Sebi Complaints Redress System.

''All recognized stock exchanges including commodity derivatives exchanges/depositories are advised to design and implement an online web-based complaints redressal system of their own, which will facilitate investors to file complaints and escalate complaints about redressal through Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC), arbitration, appellate arbitration, etc. by their respective bylaws, rules, and regulations,'' Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in a circular.

The redressal mechanism will be implemented within six months, it added. The new system is intended to expedite redressal or disposal of investors’ complaints as it would also obviate the need for physical movement of complaints.

Further, the possibility of loss, damage, or misdirection of the physical complaints would be avoided. It would also facilitate easy retrieval and tracking of complaints at any time.

Sebi said the system should be web-enabled and provide online access round the clock. Listing out the features of the new system, the regulator said that the complaints and reminders thereon are lodged online at any time from anywhere. Further, an email is generated instantaneously acknowledging the receipt of the complaint and allotting a unique registration number for future reference and tracking. Besides, there should be a provision to link the online system with SCORES.

In addition, Sebi has asked stock exchanges to continue with the hybrid mode -- online and offline -- of conducting GRC and arbitration or appellate arbitration process. Also, the depositories will have to follow the hybrid model.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, stock exchanges were advised to conduct GRC and arbitration or appellate arbitration hearings online for faster redressal of complaints. The online process saves time and cost for the parties involved which is in the interest of investors.

All stock exchanges and depositories have been asked to widely publicize their online web-based complaints redressal system.

Further, the regulator has tweaked the amount of the deposit to be made by the investor at the time of making the arbitration application.

''A client, who has a claim/counterclaim up to Rs 20 lakh and files arbitration reference, will be exempted from payment of the fees,'' Sebi said.

If the dispute involves a claim amount less than or equal to Rs 20 lakh, then the investor, either applicant or respondent, is exempted from payment of fees towards the cost of arbitration and the exchange will bear the same on behalf of the investor.

Earlier, the claim limit was up to Rs 10 lakh.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Give Feedback